Bunion removing appliance



March 14, 1939. w. L.. CARROLL sumon nsmovm APPLIANCE ori inal Filed July 29, 1932 mummlmm Patented Mar. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,150,645 BUNION REMOVING APPLIANCE New York, N. Y.

Substituted for abandoned application Serial No.

625,759, July 29, 1932. This application October 11, 1937, Serial No. 168,417

8 Claims.

device with the side of the foot at the little toe resting against an adjustable side wall of the apparatus, and an elliptical pad of concave formation placed over the joint of the big toe at 'the connection of the phaianges and metatarsal bones, and with the large toe lying on an adjustable device with rubber cushioned pins each side of the toe above the first joint, and against the distal phalanx. Thence by certain mechanical effect crowding the foot between said pad and the side wall and drawing the large toe outward, relieve the joint between the lower extremity of the metatarsal bone and the phalanges of the toe and cause the bursa development to be dissipated in the circulatory process of the capillaries and veins of the human organism, which by occasional use will eventually restore the large toe joint to a natural state.

The invention, together with certain instructions accompanying the device, and properly.

manipulated, will reduce bunions when ossification of the joint has not materially hardened, and formed an enlargement of the joint, and even in such cases, will somewhat relieve the enlargement if so formed.

In the drawing illustrating my invention,

Fig. 1 represents the right foot of a person placed in position on the instrument for reducing a bunion.

2 is a plan view of the instrument.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the instrument on the line 2, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a central section of the instrument on the line 2, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross section of the instrument on the line 2", of Fig. 2.

Fig. '6 is a side view of the instrument, looking from the left of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is a detail of one of the toe stretching and holding pins.

In the drawing, like marks of reference refer to corresponding parts in the different views; in which, A represents the main base of the instrument, and B a longitudinal and swiveled adjustable carrier on which is placed an adjustable toe holding bar, or cross piece I. As shown by the arrow, the adjustable and swiveled carrier and its cross piece may be swung over to the reverse side of the main base of the instrument to receive the left foot of a person.

The plate A, may have a couple of transverse ribs 2, by which the instrument is raised for a supporting surface upon which it is to be operated, and the ribs also elevate the instrument so that under operating screws may be more 5 readily handled. This base at one end is somewhat broadened, and through its outer extremities is formed with parallel slots as shown. Through these slots, screws 4, extend into offset posts 5 of a side wall 6, against which the opposite side of a person's foot from the large toe rests while operating the instrument.

The base plate A, at its opposite and smaller end is curved upwardly and forms an offset 1, through which a wing screw 8, is screw threaded. This screw at its inner end is formed with a ball 9 and seats in a corresponding concavity on the outer center of an elliptical concave pad It. This pad, as well as the side wall 6, is supplied with felt or other suitable lining I I, to ameliorate and tend to lessen harm to ones foot while undergoing an operation, or treatment.

The bar B, to which the toe stretching crosspiece I, is attached, is formed with a longitue dinal slot I4, and operates below the main framework A. This bar is attachedto the part A, by means of a screw I5, entering the slot from below, and its outer end is curved upward and is fitted with a wing screw I6, which at its inner end receives the crosspiece I. As shown, the wing screw passes through the part I, and is swiveled therein, and to prevent its dislodgement, is fitted with shoulders IT, on both sides of said crosspiece. This crosspiece rests upon the part B, and upon its upper surface carries holes I8, into which toe holding pins I9 are placed. As shown, but one row of holes are formed. In lieu of one row of holes, other holes may be formed in staggering rows as deemed expedient. The pins entering these holes are of metal, and are coated with soft pliable material, as for instance rubber 26, which tends to lessen harm to ones toe when placed between pins on each side of the toe when undergoing treatment.

As heretofore stated, in treating the left foot, the part B, together with its crosspiece I, may be swung in a direction of the pointed arrow to the opposite side of the framework A, while undergoing treatment of the left foot, the swinging Cit Lil

of the part may readily be effected by loosening the screw l5, and swinging the part as stated.

In operation, ones foot is placed in the in strument, and the part B together with the crosspiece I, properly regulated to accommodate the large toe, after which the pins I9, are suitably placed in the crosspiece each side of the toe, thence the pad H3, is placed over and against the joint of said toe, with the opposite side of, the foot against the wall 6, the latter being properly adjusted to suit the position of the foot in the instrument.

After the foot is properly placed in the instrument, both the wing screws are operated. The wing screw 8, is moved to crowd the joint of the toe inwardly, whilst at the same time the wing screw I6, is moved to draw the toe outwardly to loosen the joint of the toe, and to prevent ossification of the joint during the growth of Jounion in formation. By the aforesaid treatment, the joint of the toe is gradually reduced, and a bunion prevented from formation and growth.

In carrying out my invention, it is obvious that minor details of construction might be resorted to in accomplishing the same result as herein explained, and I reserve the right to so arrange, and construct the parts as compatible with the intent and spirit of the appended claims.

Having set forth my invention, what therefore I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s:

1. In a device of the nature set forth, a base plate, an adjustable side wall at one end of said base plate, an adjustable toe joint pad opposite said wall near the opposite end of said plate, an adjustable transverse crossbar secured to said plate, an adjustable toe holding crosspiece carried by said crossbar, and means to adjustably move said crosspiece on said crossbar to stretch a persons toe.

2. In a device of the nature set forth, a base plate, an adjustable side wall at one end of said base plate, an adjustable toe joint pad opposite said wall near the opposite end of said plate, an adjustable transverse crossbar secured to said plate, an adjustable toe holding crosspiece attached to said crossbar, said crossbar having vertical pin holes in its upper side, pins adapted to be placed in said crossbar at each side of a persons toe above the joint, when in operation, and means to draw said toe outward while between said pins.

3. In a device in the nature set forth, a base plate having a broadened portion at its outer end with a central stem in alignment with its upper surface, said central stem having an upturned outer end, said broadened portion having a slot in each of its outer ends in parallel alignment with said stem, a wall seating over said slots, screws extending through said slots and extending into said wall whereby it may be adjustably positioned, a concave elliptical pad having its concavity facing said wall, a wing screw screwthreaded through said upturned end of said central stem and at its inner end engaging said e1- liptical pad whereby it may be moved toward said wall, and an adjustable means for engaging a persons large toe to extend the same adjustably attached to said base plate.

4. In a device of the nature set forth, a base plate having a broadened outer end with a central stem having an upturned outer end, said broadened portion having a longitudinal slot at each of its end portions, a movable wall seating over said slots, adjusting screws extending through said slots and screw-threaded into said wall whereby it may be adjusted, a concave elliptical pad facing said wall near the outer end of said stem, said pad having a semi-circular concavity opposite the concavity of the same, a wing screw screw-threaded through the upturned end of said stem and having a ball inner end engaging said semi-circular cup of said pad, said wing screw adapted to move said pad on said stem, and an adjustable means for engaging a persons large toe attached to said base plate.

5. In a device of the nature set forth, a base plate having abroadened outer end with a central. stem having an upturned outer end, said broadened portion having a longitudinal slot at each of its outer ends, a movable wall seating over said slots, adjusting screws extending through said slots and screwthreaded into said wall whereby it may be adjusted, a concave elliptical pad facing said wall near the outer end of saidvstem, said pad having a semi-concavity opposite the facing concavity of the same, a wing screw screw-threaded through said upturned outer portion of said stem and having a ball inner end engaging said semi-circular cup of said pad, said wing screw adapted to move said pad back and forth fromsai-d wall, said wall and said concavity of said pad facing said wall having felt or equivalent material attached to the same, and means removably attached to said base plate whereby a persons toe may be stretched when in said mechanism.

6. In a device of the nature set forth, a base plate, an adjustable wall at one end of said base plate, an adjustable elliptical concave joint pad facing said wall at the opposite end of said base plate, means to adjust both said wall and elliptical pad, an elongated bar having a longitudinal slot crossing said base plate, a screw passing through said longitudinal slot and screwthreaded into said base plate whereby said bar may be both swivelly and longitudinally moved on said base plate, the outer end of said bar having an upturned end, a toe crossbar seating on said elongated bar, a wing screw screw-threaded through said upturned end and pivotally attached to said crossbar, and means for engaging a persons large toe on said crossbar, whereby when said wing screw is turned said toe may be either somewhat lengthened or relaxed, as expedient.

7. In a device of the nature set forth, in combination with means for crowding the joint of a persons large toe between two surfaces, of an elongated bar having an elongated slot, a screw extending through said slot into said means, the outer end of said bar having an upturned end, a toe crossbar seating on said elongated bar, said crossbar having vertical holes in alignment in its upper surface, metallic pins adapted to be placed into said holes, for engaging each sideof a persons toe when placed on said crossbar, and a wing screw screw-threaded through said upturned end and pivotally secured to said crossbar to move said bar either inwardly or outwardly, as expedient.

8. In a device of the nature set forth, in combination with means for crowding a persons large toe and foot between two surfaces, of an elongated bar having an elongated slot, a screw passing through said slot and into said means whereby said bar may be both swivelly and longitudinally adjusted on said means, the outer end of said bar having-an upturned end, a toe crossbar seating on said elongated bar, said crossbar having vertical holes in alignment in its upper surface, metallic pins adapted to be seated in said holes, said pins having an outer coating of rubber or equivalent means on their outer walls above their entrance into said crossbar, said pins adapted to be placed one on each side of a persons toe, a wing screw screw-threaded through said upturned end of said elongated bar and swivelly engaging said crossbar by which said bar may be drawn outwardly or moved inwardly in the treatment of a persons toe.

WILLIAM L. CARROLL. 

